ROG Xbox Ally Adds Default Game Profiles for Select Games

Microsoft is not done optimizing Windows 11 for Windows handhelds, and today the company announced the release of default game profiles for the Rog Xbox Ally and Ally X. Available in preview for 40 games, these profiles will automatically balance frame rate and power consumption to provide the best experience while playing on battery.

Default Game Profiles are tailored to each game and adjust the Thermal Design Power (TDP) to reach a specific performance target. “If the game falls short of its target FPS, the game profile is designed to boost power to help reach the target FPS, trading a bit of battery life for a smoother gameplay experience. If a game is performing above the target FPS, the game profile is designed to limit FPS at the target rate to save power,” the Xbox team explained.

For games like Hollow Knight: Silksong, the new Default Game Profile can deliver up to an hour of additional battery life compared to the existing Performance mode, all while maintaining the 120FPS target. Default Game Profiles will automatically be applied upon launch while playing on battery, but players can still turn them off using Asus’ Armoury Crate Command Center Game Bar widget.

Because Default Game Profiles are custom-made for each game, it will take time for the list of supported games to expand. At launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and 7, Doom: The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Forza Horizon 5 are among the first AAA games ot be supported.

Other new features coming to the ROG Xbox Ally include a new Game Gallery filter by Performance, which will help users see at a glance how well games run on the devices. Microsoft also said that it improved Gamepad response after login, and users should also notice that the game library loads faster. A Game Save Sync indicator for games that support Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming is also coming next week.

“Based on early feedback from players, we’re actively investing in enhancements like sleep and wake reliability, improved formatting options for microSD cards, and more. Early next year, ROG Xbox Ally X will also introduce exciting AI-powered features such as Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) and highlight reels, giving players more ways to enjoy and share their gaming moments,” the Xbox team also said today.